What I Realized from Internet hosting 100 Hours of Peer Assist By CeCe Cheng, CEO and Founding father of ShareWell
Peer help isn’t a phrase we hear all that usually and I wasn’t absolutely conscious of what it
meant till I wanted it.
Two years in the past, I used to be in an emotionally abusive relationship and my restoration from that
modified the course of my life. I noticed a therapist and spoke to buddies however nonetheless felt lonely
and remoted. Once I found peer help, I lastly found individuals who
understood me as a result of they’d been by way of an analogous scenario. I used to be not solely in a position to
discuss what I’d skilled with out feeling guilt or disgrace however was additionally in a position to
slowly regain confidence and goal by holding house for others to share.
I needed to take this discovery and use it to assist others. ShareWell was born in consequence.
Quick ahead to at least one 12 months later and I’ve now hosted over 100 peer help periods. Right here
are a few of my learnings from 100+ hours of getting and receiving peer help:
■ The best way to actually hear: It sounds easy however listening to different individuals with out
interruption and with out attempting to ‘repair’ them or supply recommendation is among the biggest
issues you are able to do for somebody who’s struggling. Listening with out judgment and
taking the time to actually perceive the place somebody is coming from may be the
greatest present for somebody in ache.
■ Peer help provides you company: I not felt like I used to be powerless however that I
was in a position to do some good on the planet. I not felt ashamed of what had
occurred and was prepared as a substitute to make use of my expertise to assist others
■ Individuals are hurting: Now greater than ever we have to assist one another. Research
present that post-pandemic nervousness and despair have elevated by 25% within the
US alone however the amenities and assets aren’t there to help this rise. It’s our
hope that ShareWell can bridge this hole by offering a peer help answer.
■ It’s not at all times apparent when somebody wants assist: I’ve spoken to 1000’s of
individuals and plenty of, from the skin not less than, look like put collectively and
extroverted (maybe how some individuals see me) however beneath that entrance, every
is preventing their very own battle. By speaking to individuals, you understand that everybody goes
by way of one thing, whether or not they appear like they’re or not.
■ Buddies and friends aren’t the identical: Buddies are individuals we like to be round and
spend time with however they will’t at all times empathize with what we’ve been by way of.
Friends aren’t essentially concerned along with your day-to-day life however perceive you.
By embracing each you’ll be able to faucet into what you actually want. Peer help might help
strengthen friendships by taking away the pressure of inauspicious conversations and
permitting you to easily take pleasure in one another’s firm.
■ The best way to empathize with different individuals: I discovered the way to acknowledge and validate
individuals’s emotions and what they’ve been by way of. In giving others house, we are able to
empower them and allow them to know that how they really feel is vital. It may be
extremely rewarding to assist somebody going by way of a tough time.
I can truthfully say that peer help teams have modified my life. I not have
traumatic flashbacks to my relationship, my relationships with my buddies have
improved, I’ve honed my communication abilities and I’m a greater listener now. However maybe
essentially the most lovely factor I’ve taken away from my time in peer help is realizing simply
how related we may be to one another.
Within the final 12 months, I’ve personally spoken with 1000’s of individuals from world wide from all completely different ages and backgrounds and located a deep connection to what every of them are going by way of.
I discovered that if you actually perceive the place somebody is coming from, you uncover
there are various extra similarities than variations to your individual story.
The pandemic has induced a lonely world to really feel lonelier with over half of Individuals
reporting feeling remoted and I firmly imagine peer help is the lengthy neglected
answer. I’m grateful to all our ShareWell members for the 100 hours of help and really feel
extremely fortunate to have this new international household of friends to lean on.
Sharewell Fb Twitter Instagram
